A Fine Early 19th Century Convex Mirror

A fine Regency Period convex mirror, surmounted with a hippocampus and two stylised dolphins above a concave moulded giltwood frame, set with gilt balls, ebonised quatrefoils and a slip, the lower section with stylised acanthus leaves and two scrolling candle arms with cut glass socles and drops.

While convex mirrors were produced in large numbers during the early nineteenth century, this example is exceptional and unusually incorporates a hippocampus – a mythological creature from Phoenician and Greek mythology. Also present are two stylised dolphins which continue the theme of sea monsters. The carving is exceptional and the mirror plate is the original.